ONE of Porthmadog’s best-loved institutions faces an uncertain future just a few months ahead of its golden jubilee.

Madog Male Voice Choir is in such a precarious position on the verge of its 50th anniversary in 2007 that it cannot offer any more concerts unless it recruits some new members soon.

Choir secretary Richard Lloyd Jones said this week that despite great efforts to modernise its image and recruit new blood over the last two years, membership has dwindled from around 22 to 12-14 at rehearsals.

He said: “It would be tragic if such a fine choir and tradition were to falter just a few months short of a memorable milestone like 50 years.

“A few good, sound members have either passed away or moved from the area with their work recently.

“We are at a very precarious stage now. With numbers below 16 we cannot actually deem ourselves a choir of four singers in each voice section.

“We urgently need new members or for past ones to come back. Talk of an extraordinary meeting has been averted and we are trying positively to move forward,” he said.

Richard, who recently lost his mother to cancer, two days after the choir had sung for her and other patients at Blaenau Ffestiniog’s under-threat Memorial Hospital, said Madog was suffering like many others in Wales from a lack of younger members.

“We are unable to take on any more concert engagements for now as the voices we have can start to struggle throughout a long show to maintain the high-quality standards we always expect of ourselves.”

This time last year, the choir was beginning to think about how its anniversary celebrations might strike exactly the right note.

Through the Herald, Richard asked past, present or even potential members and associates to express their interest in possible birthday events – such as a gala dinner and celebratory concert.

He had said the choir’s depth of character and past proud achievements had taken Porthmadog’s good name across the world.

But, at the same time, he had acknowledged that to flourish, the choir continually had to convince potential young members that its thinking was modern as its uniform, and its welcome as open as its website.

Richard said: “If you like singing and want to make a difference, for example through concert charity work, our weekly rehearsals take place at St John’s Church in Porthmadog on Thursdays at 7.30pm.”

Anyone interested in joining, can contact Richard Lloyd Jones on (01766) 770195, by e-mail to post@meibionmadog.com or by visiting the choir’s website www.meibionmadog.com